We (4 of us) will need to get from LGA to a mid-town hotel in mid-January. Can one of you seasoned FTers help out as to the optimal ways to do this? Would a limo work best instead of a cab? Is there efficient public transportation, bus or subway that you might recommend.

Thanks in advance.

How much luggage, how mobile are you, what time of day and how important is saving money?

Four people on the bus and train public transportation route is going to run you $8 total. A cab with no traffic would be about $20, plus toll ($4) and tip.

Bus from LGA to Grand Central Terminal : www.laguardiaairport.com/aviation/lgtsfram.htm

I tried this on a NYC trip this past August and was impressed with the service.

If there are four of you, I would take a cab in every situation unless cash is very, very tight. [If you take a cab, insist on Queensborough Bridge/59th street bridge to avoid the tolls.]

The shuttle bus will be more expensive for four people than a cab.

The bus/subway combo will cost $8.00 at least (for the four of you together) and you will have several flights of stairs to go up/down. I would only suggest this option if you travel very, very light and are comfortable with public transport in cities you don't know.

We're mobile and not too concerned with the cost. Sounds like a cab. Is there any problem with 4 in a cab and about three carryons?

Three or four carry-ons will easily fit in the trunk. Three of you will fit in the back seat, and one person will have to go in the front seat of a normal cab. At LGA, you will occassionaly see/have the minivan-type cab where everyone can sit in the back.

No problem with four - it's the legal maximum.

And, so you don't get scammed, know that the fare displayed on the meter (plus any bridge/tunnel tolls) is the fare for all of the pax. There are stories of unscrupulous cab drivers telling passengers that the meter fare is per person.

I too would also recommend taking a cab. $4.00 toll is not a big deal. Take the Midtown Tunnel and it will be faster if traffic condition is smooth. The fare altogether with toll and tip will cost you no more than $30.

a mid morning or afternoon arrival helps on cab cost.

This just raises a question for, as a visitor, I have never ever seen anyone riding in the front seat of a US cab, which in any event so often have some form of security screen between the seats.

In Britain it's quite normal in smaller towns and suburbs where regular cars are used rather than the custom-built London-style taxis. In Australia it's universal. But in the US I've always felt it was a no-no.

I have many times - whenever I'm with 2 or three others someone always rides in front.

In the US, it's not a no-no generally. I believe it is technically the cabbie's discretion in NYC if he will allow someone to sit in front of the security partition but it's never been an issue for me or anyone I know personally. As long as the individuals don't appear belligerent or out of their wits (i.e., obnoxious drunks), I don't see anyone on FT having issue with such unless they are dealing with an unscrupulous cabbie.

In the DC-area, the front-seat is fair game (especially since there is a per passenger surcharge). I would be more concerned about the cab seat being "clean" than about whether the cabbie will not allow four people into one cab. The front-seat being fair game holds true of most other locales in the country too -- with exceptions limited and with cabbies more than willing to allow the front-seat to be used if they are comfortable with the passengers and/or are seeing a little bit of a tip coming their way as a result.

Taxi, unless yo uare arriving at a peak arrivial time and don't want to wait in the taxi lines, then get a car service. Lots of discussion in the NY forum on which one to choose. It's a way better option then bus, and other combinations.

In New York you will put a 4th person in the front, but never just with one or two people. The driver will think you are going to rob him.